Naturally, Nurse Joanie

I finished an assignment in Dayton, Ohio last Thursday, and this past Thursday started my new assignment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  I was sad to leave Dayton and the great group of nurses I worked with.   I was happy to be going back to Baton Rouge to work with the great nurses there. Holding happy and sad in the same hand at the same time feels odd.  Sad to leave Dayton; happy to get to Baton Rouge.   Sad to be so far away from my kids; happy to be in BR near my mom, brother and lifelong friends. Change.  I hate change.  Change is what travel nursing is all about, right? That's the gig I signed up for.   I can choose NOT to be a travel nurse and make the necessary adjustments to my life - but (and I swear this is true) the thought of being stuck in a typical 9-5 Monday-Friday job with 2 weeks of paid time off a year sounds dreadful. What? Yes. D R E A D F U L.   I like the freedom travel nursing brings.  Even though I hate change....

 Ever wake up in the morning and wonder, "how the hell did I get here?" No, I'm not talking about waking up after a night of heavy drinking.  You know what I mean: that dreaded ohmygosh-whatdididolastnight panic attack you have after night of hard partying.  Don't smirk like that.  We've all been there.  Well, many of us have.  No,  I'm talking about waking up and thinking:  The kids are grown? I'm divorced?  I have a "real" job?  I'm a nurse? In GRAD SCHOOL?  Where's my house? My porch? My yard?  The six burner dual fuel double oven range I got when we remodeled the kitchen?   Where did all those years go? Am I really in my (late) 50s? Right.  THAT how-did-I-get-here moment. This is how life used to be: I was a stay-at-home mom with a husband, four kids and two dogs. I breastfed the kids - even homeschooled for a few years.  Volunteered in the community.  Did the soccer mom thing.   I made pasta, b...